PS 





LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



Shelf. rlhl/S 



+^^3 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



VIRGINIA 



With Other Poems, 



(A. B. of Emory and Henry College. ) 



[kNI'KKKD AlCORUINi; TO ACT OF CONGRKSS WITII TIIK LIBRARIAN 

Ai WASHiNtrroN, n. c] 

JUN 19 1883' 

?^y No .o^^" 

s'-''^ WASHING^. 



Charlottesvii.i.e Jekfersonian Steam Print, 
' " 1883. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 



JAMES AVIS BARTLEY 

was born in Louisa county, Virginia, on the 2nd of August 
1830. He was noted on account of aptitude for study. At 
ten years of age, he was put to Latin, and before the comple- 
tion of his twelfth year he had read the Aeneid. In the Fall of 
1849, ^^- Bartley became a student in Emory and Henry Col- 
lege : where, after pursuing his studies for three years, (having 
been absent one year,) he was graduated with the degree of 
Bachelor of Arts. In 1855, he enjoyed some lectures in the 
University of Virginia, and thought of composing a volume 
on distinguished men of his native State. In 1868-69, Mr. 
Bartley was a teacher of English in the Baltimore Female 
College. This writer has contributed verse and prose to many 
journals, and a few poems written by him, have appeared in 
three of the leajling American Magazines. He is cousin to 
Judge Thomas W. Bartley, of Washington, D. C. 



VIRGINIA. 

Virginia's native scenes ! these live and glow 

On memory's canvas ; and I fain would paint 

Them truly, for an impulse, tis well k-nown, 

Moves deeply feeling souls to represent 

Delightful things, in fair similitudes, 

By words, forms, colors, mingling lights and shades. 

Could I depict these loved familiar scenes 

With art that should deserve true, unbought praise, 

I should be happ\- — Howe'er poor the work, 

If some true judge less nicely critical 

Than others, here the smallest merit spy. 

My heart shall own the touch of truest joy. 

On th' eastern coast, the whitened sands are washed 

By the Atlantic, and fair islands stud 

Th' indented shores, where cypress groves adorned 

With trailing moss, o'erhang the lucent pool. 

And climbing plants, luxuriant, yield rare fruits 

Delicious, meet to crown Olympian feast. 

Ascend the narrow, tortuous James, and view- 

Broad flats of maize or emerald wheat or grass. 

On which are browsing numerous flocks and herds. 

Mark Jamestown's ruins ; bid your memory 

Recall good Smith and his adventurous crew 

Who laid the first foundation of this state. 

Queen Richmond sits, throned by her foaming Falls, 

With sleepless murmurs soothing our pleased sense. 

But lofty, dense, primeval forests shut 

Th' interior from the view; yet toil and skill 

Have penetrated those recesses dark. 



4 Selection of Pocvis. 

Pass yet beyond these forest glooms, and lo ! 

The verdant slopes of Piedmont glad our eyes. 

The Southwest mountains rise above the plains, 

Or draped in clouds, or bathed in sunlight sheen ; 

A peaceful, picturesque retreat where reed 

Of shepherds should be heard, could but the dream 

Of ancient pastoral life return again. 

Here the swift Anna Rappahannock seeks. 

Within green fertile banks and ancient groves. 

And full Rivanna leaves her mountain springs 

And hastes her tribute to the larger James. 

Through parted mountain-wall he egress finds, 

And broadening somewhat, rolls down to the main. 

From many an eminence the eye may scan 

Landscapes that shame the pencil's shrewdest skill. 

For rugged Alpine grandeur, the soft grace 

Of peaceful vales where rivulets strong and clear. 

Like ribboned silver, gleam for miles away. 

The zig-zag Blue Ridge stretches North and South, 

Virginia's pride and boast, where liberty 

Might stand, t' annihilate all coming foes. 

Nearer, see undulating lands, some small 

Pine-wooded mountains that look meekly up. 

As if to reverence that higher range. 

Enrobed in blue of many various shades, 

From dark cerulean to the lightest tint, 

Aye pleasing to the never-sated eyes. 

From myriad caves a myriad of pure rills 

Flash sunbeams, leap and dance and laugh away. 

To fill the all-transparent pools, form streams. 

And give fertility and flowery grace 

To myriad coves and glens, and little meads. 

By Otter creek, two spire-like peaks invite 

The soul to pass into a purer space, 

And see a wide extent of lower land ; 

And be yet more impressed by nature's proof 



Se/cctioii of Poems. 

Of the illimitable power of Him 

Whose hand-s formed nature and t'^e .starry worlds. 

Here, it is told that once an infidel 

l^eheld and recot^nized an injured God, 

Knew the Creator, praised Him and adored. 

L\-nchburg sits stately b)' the murmuring James, 

i\nd looks with pride on those twin Otter peaks. 

Pass o'er the Blue Ridge, what a vision strikes 

Th' astonished gaze, and wins the feeling soul ! 

The flowing Shenandoah's beauteous vale 

Clad in unfading green, and rich with fruits. 

Where want ne'er comes, undreamed of and unknown. 

Health here weds plent}' and eternal peace ; 

This air is rife with no malarial woes, 

Still from the ground flow springs medicinal 

Which soothe or conquer every dire disease. 

Moreover, treasures such as (ienii gave, 

As told in the di\ine Arabian Nights, 

Lie hidden round, as yet not half explored. 

Weird cav-es beneath the day, entice to go 

Heneath ; illiunc a thousand wondrous shapes 

And magic colors, never seen above. 

The Natural Bridge, an arc in solid stone. 

Curves o'er an unseen chasm, and awakes 

Our wonder at its perfect workmanship. 

The Shenandoah's deep, pellucid stream 

Displa\s, in sporting shoals, the speckled trout, 

The angler's and the epicure's delight. 

But yonder comes Potomac of the Peaks, 

In lo\ing haste, to join his brotlier here; 

Both, spell-bound, linger, mid the endless mead — 

How shall the\- reach their longed for home the sea? 

They are compact, at once both rushing smite 

And rend th' o{)posing wall of limestone hard, 

Triumphant, shouting through the broken breach 

With loud resounding cadence of the wind ; 



6 Se/trt'ou of PiKiiis. 

Then roll majestical along the land, 

By Washington and the ancestral tomb. 

No flood, except the sea-like Amazon 

Can vie with our Potomac, mighty sire 

Of rivers North American, — nor make 

Comparison with Mississippi's power, 

That bears a commerce on his bosom broad. 

The Chesapeake's capacious waters ope 

Before the vision; white with motley craft 

Which ply, with wheel or sail, to every point, 

Bearing the freights of pleasure or of gain. 

The South-side claims our notic: — many a charm 

Of landscape, field and w^ooded space, delay 

The well-pleased eye of traveler as he wends. 

The straight tall pines, in wide infinitude, 

O'ertop the oak and tangled undergrowth : 

They, seen at twilight's witching hour by dreamy eyes. 

Appear old knights close-marshalled for the wars. 

The fields are whitest snow, though summer yet 

Holds sceptre, where soft cotton bolls unfold : 

The Indian's bitter weed, in countless rows. 

Awaits the knife, or else the early frost 

Intruding, which the planter often fears. 

The genial suns and longer warmth afford 

A perfect ripeness to the luscious fruits 

That blush within these regions fair and broad. 

Behold ! the Southwest looms, a Paradise 

Of ancient trees, long valleys, meadows rich 

On which sleek herds and flocks in millions feed ; 

The fairest portion of this rich domain — 

Owning too, such strong points of natural charm 

That Wordsworth here might not have sung his mounts 

And meres in English Cumberland, I ween. 

O wide-spread land, by none on earth surpassed, 
And meet to be a kind's dominion — 



Selection of Poems. 7 

Yet here a king were insignificant 

Where men grow royal through tlieir inner worth, 

And not for "arms" which cunning thieves invent 

And wear abroad, to dazzle common eyes. 

Yet common hands must still support their pride ; 

Land bearing freemen a superior type 

Of mankind, learned, poised and calm withal, 

Who know the means to win respect from men : 

In battle brave, conceding in no point 

Essential honor ; merciful if sued ; 

Steadfast for right, e'en to the bitter death. 

Let no one scorn Virginia in his heart. 

Nor think a caveat to my lofty praise ; 

For when he'd seek her glory to gainsay 

At man he aims his silly, futile strength. 

And the rebound shall grind to dust himself 

Though clouds at times obscure the radiant disk 

Of the transcendent sun who gladdens space ; 

These but by contrast shall his gold increase. 

When he breaks through their foil, with strengthened beams : 

So sorrow's envious shadows which oppressed 

Virginia's brows a season, Honor's sun 

Soon dissipates, to leave no saddening trace, 

No memory of gloom, in her aspect, 

And she must shine with that illustrious day 

Which dazzles all men's eves forevermore. 



BLi'K 17RG/XIA MOUNTAINS. 

M)- blue Virginia mountains rear 

Their mighty masses, bear the clouds 

While Boreas rages through the air, 
The valleys in black tempests shrouds; 



Sc/trtion of Poems. 

Now when the Southwest breathes his mild 
And genial breath this way again, 

Fair blooms the Springtimes's favorite child 
Where laughing rivulets seek the plain. 

Near in a cove so deep and still 

And clinging to a huge rock's side, 
Where rival birds their answers trill 

And fresh flowers f)low in vernal pride : 
My roof I see, returning glad 

From roaming unloved foreign strands, 
And now my heart no longer sad 

To home is knit with stronger bands. 

O blue Virginia mountains ! wh\-, 

Why did I wish afar to rove ? 
To wander on, yet still to sigh 

Mid scenes the exile cannot love ? 
Yes, now my folly all is o'er ! 

Ill-thinking man who once could roam ! 
O blue, loved peaks and meadow shore ! 

To draw my latest breath at home ! 



UNIVERSITY SONG. 

Away, vain Fancy's mien and voice ; 
Now we will scorn all lighter joys ; 
Dip deep in Learning's fountains old. 
And bring up wealth more true than gold. 

Away ! O Fancy vain, away ! 

And Love, awa\' ! a\\a\' ! awa\- ! 

Fly, fly from these deep haunts, Desire, 
And Love that thrills our blood like fire; 



Selection of Poiins. 

For Learning; cold and Truth sex'cre 
Inherit us who sojourn here. 

Flee, Fancy vain ! go, fond Desire ; 

No more to rule our wills, aspire. 

E'en while we sing- away, away ! 
To Fancy vain and Love's .sweet swa\' ; 
E'en now the banished twain return, 
Warm in our hearts these live and burn : 

Alas ! for Learning's fountains old ! 

Alas! for wealth Hiorc true than gold ! 

Though in these haunts, then, inan\- a year 
Mind shall be good and Learning dear ; 
Still Love and Fancy's power for aye 
With these shall hold divided sway — 

Loved Fancy, flee not! stay, Desire I 
T(^ both, with Learning, we aspire. 



THE REV. CREED FULTON. FOUNDER OF EMOFLY 
AND HENRY COLLEGE. 

The wreath that decks the conqueror's brow 

Must bear a crimson stain ; 
Higii Justice will no bays allow 

For those who worship gain. 

The poet's garland sooner dies, 

On an unworth\- head ; 
False aureola ciuicker flies. 

Than midnight's meteor sjjed. 



lO Selection of ]\)cj)is. 

To whom, then, is the laurel crown 

Sincerely, truly, given — 
Despite pale Envy's sickly frown — 

By all-dispensing heaven ? 

To him who, seeing man's estate 

Of fallen dignity, 
Feels, plans, and labors, nor too late, 

Man's champion to be : 

, To banish darkness from the mind, 
And sorrow from the heart, 
And culture's graces, joys refined. 
To human life impart : 

Till man becomes a temple pure, 
Where God doth deign to dwell, 

And bids bright cherubim assure 
His soul from death and hell. 

Honor our Fulton who displayed 

A wise philanthropy, 
To found within this virgin shade. 

An aid to Liberty. 

A shining light set on a hill 

To radiate glad beams. 
And chase the phantom shapes of ill, 

And bring da}''s kindlier dreams. 

He sleeps — for mortal powers must fail — 

In yonder shrub-grown close. 
Where calls through summer noons the quail 

And blooms the wilding rose : 

And sigh the solemn, bending pines. 

Sad requiems endlessly ; 
And dim the noon-sun's radiance shines, 

Where broods death's mystery: 



Selection of Potins. 1 1 

Fort^ot — but with his own loved dead — 

His son beside him sleeps, 
Where honor bows her star-crowned head. 

And watch o'er her own keeps. 

'Tis our deep shame that pilgrim eyes 

From no mark hence arc bent, 
When }'onder classic halls arise 

His life-time's monument. 

P'orgive, O who didst bring us day ! 

Our minds unlike to thine; 
So late, thy friendship we repay, 

And make thy tomb a shrine ! 



RECOLLECT/ON. 

While wandering on through many a scene 

My mind will oft revert, 
Back to a stream and meadow green, 

Hard by a woodland's skirt, 
In old Virginia's distant land — 

It was my native spot ; 
And tread I whatsoever strand 

That ne'er can be forgot. 

How well I see the ancient roof. 

When there my e)'es explore ; 
'Gainst rains and suns it stood still proof. 

While with its open door 
It seemed to welcome all to pass 

Within, and taste its cheer. 
Nor spiuMied e'en t!ie sad vagrant class 

Awa\' with taunt or sneer. 



12 Sc/cctioii of Poems. 

The genial neighbors often came, 

For visits short or long, 
For social chat, or harmless game, 

Or play or simple song. 
And field-sports the boon youngsters knew, 

To cha^e the timid hare. 
Or rouse the fox and hurr}' through 

The bracing, morning air. 

O careless, happy time of youth 

And scenes beloved still ! 
Where shall we find again your truth 

Within a world of ill ! 
Then let me oft and oft revert" 

To that familiar spot. 
Hard by the stream and woodland's skirt — 

'Twill never be forgot ! 



SONNET. 

Thy meek and gentle beauty — those soft eyes. 

Large, blue, and brilliant, dreamy like the night ; 

A form, in motion pleasing to the sight. 
And beautiful in rest e'en to surprise ! 
When the light sparkling waves of laughter rise 

Unto thy virgin lips, thy cheeks' pure light. 

With these all being seems to laugh, despite 
Time's manifold and mighty agonies — . • 

And I, my former loneliness forgot. 

The bitterness of a neglected lot. 
Behold the earth with flowers of Eden dight 

Gracing the courts and every secret spot, 
With the sweet dews of that first morning bright, 

Joys which my soul before imagined not. 



Sclcition of Poems. 13 

TO 

In vain shall rivalry employ 

Her tireless, cunning arts, 
And Malice hurl, with fiendish joy. 

Her poison-pointed darts: 

VV^e scorn their crime of madness bred 

Nor all their power we fear ; 
Since all the drops of sorrow shed 

Have rendered each more dear. 

The jiower who rules in heaven above 

On earth has made us one ; 
He guards the tie divine of love 

Too strong to be undone. 

Despite the shadows passing o'er, 

1 le smiles upon our fates ; 
And .souls that love thus more and more 

Internal bliss awaits. 



A CHARLOTTESVILLE BEAUTY. 

By loved Rivanna's winding wave, 

Dwells a sweet lad\' fair. 
The dearest one that fate e'er gave 

To rob the heart from care. 

Her neck and brows like lilies white; 

The reddest blooming rose. 
When placed upon her cheek's pure light, 

No more its beauty shows. 



14 Slice tion of Poems. 

When standings she appears a grace, 
And seated she's a queen ! 

No object that our eye can trace, 
In motion's lovelier seen. 

Her smile is like the morning beam. 
It glads my inmost soul. 

And chases sorrow's phantom gleam 
With conquering control. 

And she's an angel sent to earth 
To lighten and to save, 

A creature of transcendent worth, 
The dearest fate e'er crave. 



YE GIRLS OF PIEDMONTS VALES AND HILLS. 

Ye girls of Piedmont's vales and hills, 

How graceful are your forms ! 
The brightness of your blooming cheeks 

The soul within me warms. 
Your braids of long, luxuriant hair 

Are auburn, brown, or gold ; 
And all that minstrels sang as fair 

In you our eyes behold. 

Your voices chime like mellow notes 

From some sweet sea-nymph's shell ; 
The strange aerial music leads 

My soul with witching spell. 
I hearken, and I leave the earth 

In poet's world to live 
And drink in joys and golden worth 

That truth could never give. 



Sc/vction of Poems . 15 

Ye girls of Piedmont's vales and hills. 

From you I'll never fly ; 
Bound by your chains, I'll have no wish, 

But e'en with you to die. 
I'^air blooming girls I love the best ! 

But say you'll kindly weep, 
Then blest in life, I'll happy rest 

In death's unending sleep. 



OH, XOW I FEEL AND WEEPING OWN. 

Oh. now I feel and weeping own 

How vain my wish to speak ; 
Love strong as mine, and so alone, 

Finds all its words too weak ; 
And stills, in sacred silence deep. 
Thoughts it would utter yet must keep. 

Yet, lady fairer than all things 

Mine eye hath ever seen, 
Than reason knows, or fancy brings 

From worlds of brighter sheen. 
Friend sweeter than the light of life ! 
With love my soul is over-rife ! 

Oh, peerless, wondrous beauty ! say 

I may not wretched rove ; 
But I thy smile shall see for aye 

Reveal undying love — 
Drear age and sickness blest can be, 
And even Death were sweet, with thee. 



1 6 Siicctioii of Pociiis. 

BLISS IN A COTTAGE. 

Yon tiny white cot on the brow of the hill, — 

Oh, know you that low humble shed is my own ? 

That I dwell there in bliss, and my heart feels no thrill 
(3f the pain, that in roving before it has known. 

The clematis climbs o'er the sun-lighted wall. 

And the throstle sings near in the green poplar tree, 

Till the shadows of eve o'er the gray hillocks fall 
And the low languid breeze dies in soft melody. 

Oh, deem you that anxious my thoughts now must be, 
As I hasten the way that shall bring my feet there ? 

At length a sweet face at my threshold I see, 
Who joys that my footsteps to her now repair. 

Away, false ambition ! the world's empty cares ! 

The cottage is mine, and I prize this alone ; 
And, blest in the thoughts which my cherished mate shares, 

A king's not more happy who sits on his throne. 



WITH A BOUQUET OE E LOWERS. 

Oh, love ! these fair flowers all a-blow 

I send unto thy hand — 
What the reception they shall know 

Fate surely must command ; 

Yet, since they are the richest gems 

The genial springtime gives. 
And freshly ta'en from growing stems 

And thickest clustering leaves — 

Oh ! think at least how they express 

A living lover's mind. 
And in each emblem's worthiness 

A heart's affection find ! 



Sdtxtion of Poems. 17 

A ROSE IN AUTUMN. 

rare late rose past season blown, 
Hardly, and by nice care : 

Now thou dost make true bliss my own, 
When I should else despair. 

The fair ones of the jocund spring 

Did laugh on many a breast; 
And laurelled knights fond-lingering. 

Received the summer's best. 

1 mated with the brilliant throng 

Through both the seasons' pride; 
While yet I sang the duteous song, 
Fate still my bliss denied. 

At length the leafy months all passed, 

And hope the false one fled ; 
My love unto the earth was cast 

To molder with the dead. 

Then me a pitying angel brought 

This rare bud from bright clime ; 
Now sober autumn days are fraught 

With sweets of vernal time. 



IN EARLY LIFE'S UNCLOUDED MORN. 

In early life's unclouded morn, 

I gazed on one all-beauteous face ! 

Then all the charms my heart had borne 
That brighter beauty did efface. 



Selection of Poems. 

And more than all I did love thee, 
Did sing thy high unrivalled praise, 

And thou didst sweetly smile on me. 
Didst list my simple, heart-felt lays. 

And we were pledged to wedded be, 
Two hearts were passing happy then ; 

All life was pretty poetry 

And Eden come to earth again. 

But oh ! Death saw and envied us, 
He ruthless severed us full soon : 

Our Eden fled — so beauteous ! 

And Death's long sleep appeared a boon. 

Cowled Grief became my comrade then, 
My faithful guard and closest friend ; 

And I shall ne'er be glad again 
Till weary pilgrimage shall end. 



CONFIDING LOVE. 

When love doth know calm confidence, 
Nor fears its precious trust betrayed. 
With joy on truth forever stayed. 

Suspicion banished thence : 

No other bliss from yon dear skies 
Descends to fill the hungering breast 
And make it so supremely blest ; 

For this is — Paradise. 



Sc/ccficvi of Poems. 19 

TO 

Yes ! thou art fairer than the rose 

Begemmed with dew of morn ; 
Thy beauty rare tliat mocks compare, 

In heaven was surely born. 

To me more sweet than poetry 

Thy presence, looks and smiles, 
Thy teasing way, and humor gay 

And shrewd yet harmless wiles. 

But when I mark those great bright tears 

Suffuse those blooming checks. 
My breast is filled, and wildly thrilled, 

With grief my lip ne'er speaks. 

To \ow I lo\'e thee were a word 

That any false could tell — 
This heart doth beat but to repeat 

Its truth unspeakable ! 

And till it yields to pain and death 

And throbs and lives no more, 
Its pulses own this love alone. 

None after or before ! 



HARD BY RIVANNAS SPARKLING WAVE. 

Hard by Rivanna's sparkling wave 

Dwells a fair maid who charms my eye, 

One to whom nature kindly gave 
Each potent spell of witchery. 



20 Selection of Poems. 

The form of grace, the chee«?s soft hue, 
The pendent wreaths of auburn hair. 

The languid eyes of melting blue, 

The deathless thoughts that lighten there. 

■ Ah ! who that ever felt those charms 
Beam full upon his eye and soul 
More deeply than the Summer warms. 
Could e'er resist their strong control ? 

And I — my heart's enkindled flame 
Burns deep and burns forevermore ; 

Consuming yet fore'er the same, 

Whose warmth those eyes must still restore. 



HOW HAPLESS HE WHO PROUDLY SPURNS^ 

How hapless he who proudly spurns 

Sweet love's true heaven-born flame ! 
For once illumed, it brightly burns, 

Through every fate, the same : 
In blest prosperity it shines 

With radiant, gladsome beams. 
Nor e'er in sad despair declines, 

Fed by fond hope's fair dreams. 

Let not one heart refuse its sway 

But welcome its soft chains ! 
His eye alone sees heavenly day 

O'er whom love truly reigns. 
His is the sole beatitude, 

Blest even in soft sighs ; 
Love glads this earthly solitude 

And makes it Paradise. 



Selection of Poems. 2 1 

REMEMBRANCE. 

Should cruel Fate bear me away 

From joys that dwell with thee, 
Sweet friend I hold the dearest, say 

Thou'lt still remember me. 

When lovers \iew each face no more, 

This must their solace be, 
Thought may the image )-et restore 

In faithful memory. 

Yes ! dear it is to every heart 

Remembrance thus to claim : 
It dulls misfortune's pointed dart 

To have a friend the same. 

Oh ! if I stray alone, unblest. 

O'er loveless land and sea, 
Joy still with me shall be a guest 

If thou'lt remember me. 



OH, LOVE! REMEMBER ME. 

Oh, love ! remember me, 
When eyes have wept adieu. 

For I will think of thee. 
With fond affection true. - 

The only blissful thought 
When faithful lovers part — 

The sole balm fate has brought 
To heal the breaking heart — 



Si lectio II of Foe Ills. 

Is, neither is forgot, 
As neither doth forget, 

Till envy's evil wrought. 
Fond souls again have met. 

Yes ! love was surely given 
To bless us evermore ; 

Together — and, when riven. 
Our raptures to restore. 



MY LOVE FOR FHEE, FAIR MAID, IS PURE! 

My love for thee, fair maid ! is pure 

As earth-born love may be; 
Ay, 'tis divine and must endure 

Through all eternity. 

The mind is formed never to die. 

Affection cannot fade ; 
When all yon stars that light the sky, 

Have fallen and decayed, 

The soul shall live, and purified 

Its passion from all stain. 
Where holy ones in bliss abide, 

Shall claim its own again. 

My love for thee, dear maid ! may claim 

The blest even now to share 
Its holocaust of sacred flame, 

Its worth beyond compare. 



Selection of Poems. 23 

A GENUINE PASSION. 

Oh, when a genuine passion warms 

The deeply feeling breast, 
Truth then disdains the spoken forms 

By which this were expressed. 

The lover gazes on one face ; 

When absent, paints in thought : 
He worships every matchless trace 

That Beauty's hand hath wrought. 

Yet should he struggle to portray 

In words the love he feels, 
Half of his joy he should gainsay. 

And thus no song reveals 

The heaven a genuine passion is ; 

But bosoms moved as mine, 
Ne'er need be told the peerless bliss 

That makes their fate divine. 



THE ROSES OE PIVANNA'S MEAD. 

How lovcl)- arc the roses blooming 
In our Rivanna's verdant mead! 

Each passing breeze with sweets perfuming, 
As on the golden moments speed. 

I fondly stay to view their beauty 

In waking dreams of sweet delight, — 

To lo\e whom is both joy and duty. 
For God has robed them in His light. 



24 Selection of Poems. 

Ah ! yet of all the roses blooming 

The summer through, so rare and sweet, 

Their precious odor-gifts bestowing 
On airs that come the flowers to greet, 

One rose unrivalled bears my spirit 
To perfect rapture's heavenly height, 

And bids my mortal mind inherit 

Dear joys no coming change can blight. 



THY FORM AND FACE ARE PASSING FAIR. 

Thy form and face are passing fair ; 

I feel thy beauty's potent spell ; 
Thy bird-like accents, blithe and sweet- 

In memory echoing ever dwell. 

Where'er I rove, where'er I toil 
In friendlessness and silent pain, 

I greet the vision of thy charms, 
I list thy music's warbled strain. 

And when I send my orisons 

On trembling, soaring wings to heaven, 

For thee, for thee, O beauteous one ! 
My warmest, purest prayer, is given 

And is this passion genuine love ? 

throbbing heart of mine, reply ! 
To thee alone, O fairest maid ! 

1 heave a faithful lover's sigh. 



ScU'cticvi of PocDis. 25 

BEAUTY. 

Beauty displays its magic true 

In morning's blush, in evening's glow, 
In rainbow tints, in glistening dew 

That decks the thousand flowers that blow. 
In manhood's perfect living form, 

In maiden's snow-and-vermeil cheeks ; 
Yet in her eyes its dearest charm 

Her studious lov^er fondly seeks. 
As day-dreams of the poet's mind 

Its images of beauty throng ; 
In sleep's dominions less confined 

It witches still with power how strong. 
Now, what is beauty ? Who can tell 

The secret of its fadeless charm ? 
None can explain, all feel the spell 

For e'en the coldest this can warm. 
Beauty to glad us here doth shine, 

Brokenly as through shattered glass ; 
But we shall find it the divine, 

Whene'er beyond the veil we pass. 
There doth its Perfectness shed round 

Its own full radiance evermore. 
There the Ideal shall be found 

We sigh for on this fadin<j shore. 



PARTING. 

'Tis joy to meet, 'tis bliss to stay. 

But oh ! how sad is parting ! 
In spite of reason's tranquil sway, 

The anguished tear is startine. 



Selection of Poems. 

And what can glad the lonely hours 

Or satisfy my yearning, 
While still the adverse heavenly powers 

Delay my glad returning ? 

Fond memory may afford her aid 
To soothe my lingering sorrow, 

And hope's beam gild the midnight shade 
With radiance of the morrow : 

But oh ! the heart, the loving heart. 
Robbed of its sweetest treasure, 

Can have in joy no real part. 

And ne'er shall know true pleasure : 

Till, past the gloomy period o'er 
Which all life's joys blighted, 

We meet, to part and weep no more, 
Forever reunited. 



A TREASURE. 

There is a treasure that I crave, 

I ceaselessly desire to have. 

It is not glittering yellow gold. 

Nor sparkling diamond's beams untold, — 

Though men for those pass sleepless nights 

And barter all serene delights. 

Who will divine this treasure's name. 

And fix in human speech the same ? 

Must I the secret truth impart 

And say it is — one Fond True Heart? 



Selection of Poems. 2} 

A BALLAD. 

Hard by Rivanna's mountain stream 

That pours a yellow flood, 
In winter's mist and summer's beam 

A mansion long has stood. 

Late in it lived a maiden fair, 

Whom well I once did know ; 
All golden was her flowing hair, 

Her eyes with love a-glow. 

She reigned in nature's kingdom good, 

By love's own sovereign right ; 
The tiniest flower in solitude 

Received and paid delight. 

And when a handsome stranger came. 

Who through the world did roam. 
He shared, although unknown his name, • 

Her hospitable home. 

And oh ! this maiden loved him well — 

He was, alas ! untrue ; 
Then grief within her heart did dwell, 

And soon she sickly grew. 

Vet she ne'er breathed the false one's name, 

And all mistook the sign ; 
They said consumption's hectic flame 

Betokened her decline. 

And ere a twelvemonth had rolled round. 

She yielded to her grief; 
And died when nature's brow was crowned 

With blossom and with leaf 

They buried her in holy earth — 

God took his wounded dove : 
She wins, to pay her heart's sad dearth. 

Heaven's perfect, deathless love. 



28 Selection of Poems. 

TO 

When first our eyes in passion met 

And lip to lip was pressed, 
And love's undying flame was lit 

In each tumultuous breast; 
The tie then thrown around us twain 

Became too strong to break ; 
Wealth,poverty, scorn, hate, joy, pain 

In us no fears awake. 

Along a path untrod before 

We journey day by day, 
Glad bands of angels harping o'er 

The rose-engirdled way ; 
And if the thistle wounds us sore 

Love brings a sovereign balm. 
Whose heavenly virtues soon restore 

Sweet joy and healthful calm. 

True love's a rose of heavenly birth 

'Neath Joy's celestial skies — 
Transplanted, to this planet's worth 

It adds unnumbered dyes 
Of beauty else unseen, unknown ; 

Its deep and holy charm 
O'er all the changing landscape's thrown 

With hue aye bright and warm. 



WEDLOCK. 

Without thee, spot hath never smiled ; 

E'en Paradise would be 
A flowerless and treeless wild. 

If there I found not thee. 



Sc/cction of Poems. 2g 

For who can tell how close the tie 

That joins two wedded hearts ? 
The blow that breaks their sympathy 

The life-chord also parts. 

No machinations of our foes, 

No fate beneath the sun, 
Can part the bond that stronger grows 

As varying years roll on. 

We set but one united face 

To every envious storm ; 
Though winter nature's joys efface. 

Our household fires glow warm. 

We twain who now so long are one, 

Whom equal raptures move ! — 
While shines above the all-gladdening sun. 

Life's sweetest pleasures prove. 



TO 



When far from scenes where joy and thou 

Together still must dwell, 
Perchance the thought will cloud my brow 

The sorrowing tear will swell. 
Then it would be a solace sweet 

When dark is all I see. 
That once I heard those lips repeat — 

I will remember thee ! 

Remember me ! Oh ! I can ne'er 

The cherished past forget ; 
Its recollection would be dear 

When hope's last beam had set 



Sc/crtion of Poems. 

This one boon I will crave from thee 

Ere yet I must be gone, 
That thy fond faithful memory 

Retain thy absent one. 

And if kind heaven relenting late 

Say I may yet return, 
Nor longer roam disconsolate 

And for lost friendships yearn : 
What joy 'twill be to know that ne'er 

Thou hast forgotten me, 
That thy sweet promise was sincere — 

I will remember thee ! 



WEDDED LOVE AT HOME. 

O naught can sever two fond hearts 

That fate has joined as one, 
No rival's power, nor flatterer's arts, 

Can make the tie undone : — 
Which links these aye in bliss or woe 

One home, one hope, one name, 
To share each various chance below. 

In life, in death the same. 

Within their fortress peace abides, 

Here hope prophetic sings ; 
Love the enchanter kindly- hides 

Life's coarser, ruder stings. 
O fairest and most holy scene 

To mortal gaze e'er given, 
Arrayed in sinless Eden's sheen, 

The imaere of lost heaven ! 



p 



Selection of Poems. ji 

LONG / BELIEVED THIS FOND HEART KNEW. 

Long I believed this fond heart knew 

The sacred flame of love — 
This having pierced my being through, 

No more I had to prove. 
But then I had not thee espied 

In peerless beauty dight ; 
The world's chief gem and choicest pride, 

And mortal's best delight. 

How these enchanted eyes now dwell 

On those effulgent charms, 
And love's deep, soul-transporting spell 

My heart entirely warms ! 
The heart that ever felt the power 

Of one o'ermastering thought. 
Must own, in its most truthful hour, 

Its former loves were naught. 



JULY FOURTH, iSSj. 

Give praise where praise is clearly due ; 
Honor the dead whose lives were true, 
Those hero-sons of every clime 
Whose actions made their fates sublime. 
Here, honor most the mighty man 
From whom our greatness first began : 
The brave, the philosophic sage 
Who read, in Reason's patent page, 
Man's general, true equality — 
His rights ; on this green globe to be ; 
To breathe dear liberty with life, 



Selection of Poans. 

Not bought by blows or bleeding strife ; 
To fear no brother's insolent greed 
Pursuit of pleasure may impede; 
To roam the lands, to check the seas, 
And probe the heaven's deep mysteries ; 
To be what wisdom first designed, 
Untrammeled body, freest mind ; 
Unchallenged to God's shrines to come ; 
And do the pieties of home, 
Those living streams of Paradise 
Whose fountains e'en within us rise. 

Yes, honor Jefferson, the most, 

A mighty people's proudest boast, 

With festive eloquence and song. 

And still his lofty praise prolong. 

With peals that pierce earth — ocean — sky, 

Whence deep-bass thunders make reply: 

With monuments of solid rock 

Whose strength the fiercest storm may mock ; 

Where grateful eyes can read the name. 

The highest on the scroll of fame. 

He took, he held the leader's place. 

But all the world stood to his face: 

He never blenched, he never swerved, 

Nor sunny calms nor clouds observed. 

But risked purse, life — more, honor's life ; 

Nay, all — in that immortal strife 

Which did man's liberty restore. 

And broke his chains forevermore. 



VIRGINIA: 



W\t\\ Other Poems, 



1/ 

{A. B. of Emory and Henry College.) 



[KNTF.RKn ACCIiROING TO AfT OK CON'CKKSS WITH THE I.IHRAKIAN 
AT WASIIINCTON, I), c] 



ChaKI.oTTK.SVU.I.I-. JKri'KRSONTAN StKAM PrINT, 
1883. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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